Leggy Stint at Lound

Seen on 29th Sept on Chainbridge Scrape all day, photos and video taken at 10.45am. I am certain this was the same bird reported as a possible Long-toed Stint.

Carsington Water 29/03/11

3 Great Northern Divers present, 2 juveniles and 1 adult still predominently in winter plumage. Also a Black Redstart discovered today near the wildlife centre by another birder....... after I'd left...... Doh!!!

Also a genuine wild Barnacle Goose with the domesticated flock on Stones Island, apparently first tagged as a first year bird at Caelaverock reserve in 1997.

Old Moor and Wombwell Ings RSPB

Old Moor - First sand martins of the year and a swallow through. 2 Med Gulls in the Black-headed Gull colony on the Mere. 1 Pintail on Wath Ings.
Wombwell Ings - Pair of Garganey (seen copulating!), pair Shelduck, pair Pintail, pair Red-legged Partridge, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew and 7+ Redshank

It's a Grebe Fest!

The harsh weather and frozen inland water bodies meant that sightings of grebes became very scarce for me this winter. No doubt that many decided to head for the coast for the winter, but sure enough as the weather and temperatures have picked up in late Feb and into March, they all begin to return.
A day in the environs of Hatfield Moors, near Doncaster, is a good call for a grebe fix this spring. Supporting a generous number of breeding Great-Crested and Little Grebes the area is fast becoming a strong hold for Black-necked Grebes aswell. Add to this the unusual but sight faithful summering Red-necked Grebe at Ten-Acre Lake and you really can't expect much more on the grebe front within a smallish area.

Black-necked Grebe

Great-crested Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Spring at Blacktoft Sands RSPB

Spring was in the air at Blacktoft with marsh harriers sky dancing, great-crested grebes displaying and the duck species .....well........doing it!

Wigeon

Common Buzzard

Little Grebe

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

Common Snipe

Barn Owl

March 8th 2011 - Raptor Watch at Howden Reservoir

Fantastic morning that was so good it ended up being a whole day staked out at Windy Corner in brilliant sunshine! Spring is in the air!

Sightings - 1 juv Rough-legged Buzzard, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 3+ Goshawk, 3+ Sparrowhawk, 3 Peregrine, 7+ Common Buzzard, 4 Kestrel, 7+ Raven, 1 male Red-brested Merganser, 6+ Curlew, 3 Goldcrest.

Also took a walk up the top end of the valley past Slippery Stones and onto Howden Edge late afternoon. At least 50 Red Grouse up there and at least 12 Mountain Hares most still with very white fur!

Sparrowhawk

Goshawk

Goshawk

Raven

.

February in Full

Busy times and sadly the blog has been rather neglected of late. Some recent highlights from a few limited days in the field.

Chatsworth Park



Deer



Red Deer



Fallow Deer

Wroot

Bewick's Swan



Whooper Swan

Carsington Water

Barn Owl

Willington Gravel Pits

Black-throated Diver

Blacktoft Sands

Long-eared Owl

Fairburn Ings

Eurasian White-fronted Geese

Hatfield Moors

Willow Tit

Blue Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Reed Bunting

18th Jan - Out and about

Started the day at Hatfield Moors, South Yorks for the Rough-legged Buzzard. After couple of hours, good views around mid-day from the west end of Great Gate Wood and then over the South Fields as I headed back towards the car, also a juvenile Peregrine sat in the middle of a field in the sun. Good views of several Corn Bunting and Fieldfare and a few large flocks of Pinkfeet heading West.

Then on to West Halton, North Lincs for the geese. Found the flock easily just North of the village and East of the road. Result - single Taiga Bean and Greenland White-fronts in the large flock of grazing Pinkfeet. Joy!!

Bean Goose

Greenland White-fronted Goose

Greenland Whitefronted Goose

Called at Blacktoft Sands RSPB for late roost but only one Barn Owl and 3 Marsh Harriers - was hoping for Hen Harriers and Merlin but you can't win 'em all.

Willington Owls 11/01/11

Great views of single Short-Eared Owl and Barn Owl hunting over the 'horse paddock' field at Willington Gravel Pits, Derbyshire. No sign of Long-Eared Owl or roosting Bitterns that have been seen from the same location in recent weeks.

Day out in North Lincolnshire 04/01/11

First day out of the new year on the North Lincs coast was fairly bracing but no less productive and enjoyable. Christmas cobwebbs officially shaken off!

South Ferriby 10:00-13:00

Pull-ins and roadside
Juv Rough-Legged Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Juv Peregrine

Merlin (poss juv male or female?)

Male Kestrel
40+ Pink-footed Goose

30+ Canada Goose
20+ Greylag Goose
15+ Long Tailed Tit
3 Redwing

Reeds Island
7 Fallow Deer
Juv Marsh Harrier
4 GBB Gull

Marina
50+ Widgeon
3 Redshank
Grey Heron

Chowder Ness 13:30-14:15

2 Bar-tailed Godwit

Juv Grey Plover

16+ Pale-bellied Brent Goose

2 Dark-bellied Brent Goose

2 Dark-bellied birds are furthest away and closest to in this shot